Phalaenopsis orchid plant named &#39;PHALDONFI&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALDONFI’, particularly characterized by light pink flowers with purple stripes and red lip, 2 to 3 peduncles, a short and sturdy inflorescence, a narrow oblong leaf shape, and propagated by tissue culture is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Phalaenopsis Blume

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘PHALDONFI’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceaefamily, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘PHALDONFI’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 60 species of herbaceousperennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable forcultivar in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantlyepiphytic or rock dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the MalayArchipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy,oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodialgrowth), which vary in size from 12 to 20 cm to over 60 cm. The leavesmay be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in thehorticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for theflorist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home orinteriorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often withmany showy flowers which open in succession beginning with thelowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; thelateral ones being alike. The lowermost petals, called the labellum, isthree-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flowersegments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow,and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexualpropagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which arisefrom the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants aredetached from the mother plants and may be planted in a suitablesubstrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALDONFI’ is particularly characterized by itsattractive and unique pink flowers, economical propagation by tissueculture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging andshipping to the market.

‘PHALDONFI’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted inBleiswijk, The Netherlands.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALDONFI’ originated from a cross made inFebruary 2003 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The female parent is a pinkPhalaenopsis pot plant name ‘01-0269’ (unpatented), while the maleparent is a pink Phalaenopsis pot plant named ‘01-1464’ (unpatented). Asingle plant was selected in May 2007 and has been asexually reproducedrepeatedly by tissue culture in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands over a 6-yearperiod. The new variety has been found to retain its distinctivecharacteristics through successive asexual propagations.

Asexual reproduction of ‘PHALDONFI’ by tissue culture was firstperformed in April 2010 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar is firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europeon Jan. 15, 2013. ‘PHALDONFI’ has not been made publicly available orsold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing dateof this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

1) Light pink flower with purple stripes and red lip;

2) 2 to 3 peduncles;

3) Inflorescence is short and sturdy;

4) The shape of the leaf is narrow oblong; and

5) Plants are propagated by tissue culture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, budsand foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Thephotographs are of a 50-week old plant grown in a greenhouse inBleiswijk, The Netherlands in April 2013.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliageof ‘PHALDONFI’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the flower of ‘PHALDONFI’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALDONFI’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘PHALDONFI’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inBleiswijk, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 50-week oldplants which were planted from tissue culture in 12 centimeter pots andgrown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks, continuedby a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks ina greenhouse of 21° C. Observations were made in April 2013. Colorreadings were taken under 4000 till 6000 lux natural light in thegreenhouse. Color references are primarily to The RHS Colour Chart ofThe Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.        -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis Blume.        -   Common name.—Phalaenopsis.        -   Variety name.—‘PHALDONFI’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-0269’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-1464’ (unpatented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Tissue culture.-   Plant:    -   -   Crop time (time to produce a finished flowering plant).—48            to 50 weeks for a 12 cm pot.        -   Growth habit of inflorescence.—Standard type, green leaves            and panicle.        -   Height (including pot, including inflorescence).—40.0 cm to            50.0 cm.        -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—36.0 cm to 40.0 cm.        -   Vigor.—Strong to moderate.-   Roots:    -   -   Root description.—Grey-green -colored roots with light            branching lateral roots having grey-green -colored root            tips.-   Leaves:    -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 6 to 7 leaves are            produced before flowering Length (fully expanded): 18.0 cm            to 20.0 cm Width: 5.5 cm to 6.5 cm Shape: Narrow oblong            Apex: Obtuse Leaf blade angle with the petiole: Between 20            degrees and 40 degrees Leaf margin: Entire Color: Upper            surface: RHS 137B Lower surface: RHS 138B Texture: Smooth            Thickness: 1.7 mm Venation: Pattern: Parallel Color of the            midvein: Upper surface: RHS 137A Lower surface: RHS 138A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—2 to 3.        -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—16 to 26.        -   Length.—30.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—about 0.5 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Brown (RHS 200A).        -   Internode length.—40.0 mm to 70.0 mm.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, panicle            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 50.0 mm to 60            0 mm Diameter: 80.0 mm to 130.0 mm.        -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11            months after planting in a 12 cm pot.        -   Flower.—Height: 45.0 mm to 48 0 mm Diameter: 52.0 mm to 56.0            mm Depth of lip: 16.0 mm to 18.0 mm.        -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 13 to 15 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open Shape: Semi-circular Apex:            Mucronate and symmetric Margin: Slightly undulate Length:            26.0 mm to 28.0 mm Width: 25.0 mm to 27.0 mm Color (when            fully opened): Main color: Light pink with purple stripes            (RHS 80D; 78A) At the base: Light pink with purple stripes            (RHS 80D; 78A).        -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic Length: 26.0 mm to 28 0 mm            Width: 17.0 mm to 19.0 mm Color (when fully opened): Main            color: Light pink with purple stripes (RHS 80D; 78A) At the            base: Light pink with purple stripes (RHS 80D; 78A).        -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate Length: 17.0 mm to 19 0 mm            Width: 25.0 mm to 27.0 mm Color (when fully opened): Main            color: Light pink with a touch of green and purple stripes            (RHS 80D; 78A; 149D) At the base: Light pink with a touch of            green and purple stripes (RHS 80D; 78A; 149D).        -   Labellum (lip).—Margin: Entire Length: 15.0 mm to 18.0 mm            Width: 16.0 mm to 18.0 mm.        -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: type V Color: Purple with white and            yellow shade and purple spots (RHS 71A; 155C; 10C; 59A).        -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Obdeltoid Color: Purple (RHS 71A).        -   Callus.—Color: Yellow with purple spots (RHS 14B; 71A).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a            single, short structure called the column, possessing one            terminal anther with pollen grains united into pollinia,            which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located            under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior            with three carpels present.        -   Column.—Length: 9.0 mm to 10.0 mm Diameter: 4.0 mm to 5.0 mm            Color: Purple (RHS 80B).        -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2 Size: 1.0 mm to 1.1 mm Color: Orange            (RHS 26A).        -   Ovary.—Length: 8.0 mm to 9.0 mm Diameter: 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 26.0 mm to 30.0 mm Diameter: 2.0 mm to 3.0            mm.-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of 15° C. and a    high temperature about 30° C.-   Comparison with commercial varieties: Presently there is no    commercial cultivar to which ‘PHALDONFI’ can be meaningfully    compared.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named‘PHALDONFI’ as shown and described herein.